Juho Hanninen, the most successful driver in the history of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will return to the series on the Geko Ypres Rally this week determined to score a strong result.

The 2010 IRC champion, a winner of nine IRC rounds, hasn’t always enjoyed the same level of success in Belgium as he has on other events but hopes that will change when the rally begins on Friday afternoon.

“It is an event where Mikko [Markkula] and I did not do really well in the past, so we want to be more successful this year,” said the Finn, who won on his last appearance in the IRC on April’s Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally. “Our ambition is to win as many points as possible.”

Hanninen, who will also be chasing points in the combined European championship section of the event, will pilot the sole SKODA Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 in Ypres: team-mate Jan Kopecky is contesting a clashing Czech championship round instead.